The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-11
EXPLORING CAVES.
Fascinating Work That with Precaution is
Not Very Dangerous.
n, S. shaler in October soribncr's VI

@'Oo way oAh6tHVuss
n, S. Shaler in October Scribner's
The ordinary visitor to this region of cav
orns (Kentucky) enters the few show caves in
the convenient way afforded by some break of
their roofs or by the old places of exit of the
governing streams. In actual practice we
commend this conservative custom: but as our
imaginary Journey demands odly ideal risks,
we may low proceed to follow the history of
the process of cavern making, from the place
where it begins to the point where the waters
conclude their underground work and enter
the open streams.
With proper precautions the advent,.rous ex-
plorer may deccnd these pits with no more risk
than he encounters in Alpine mountain work
In this country, where untroddcn heights are
not open to lis, ii may be worth While for the
lover OF adventure to try these uneXplored
depths. The present writer, who has tried
both lines of exploration is inclined to consider
the cavern work as perhaps the more fascina-
ting of tho two Certainly the explorer more
quickly finds his way into the realm of the UNI
known than III mountain climbing, and is less
often met by the discoRraging evidence that
after all the ground is not untrodden.
The first thing we note on entering the
throat of the chasm is that, if it be warm
weather, there is q decided current of air set
ting down into the space below; If it be cold,
there is an ascending current of warm air from
The shalt, which CondenSeS into mist as it cS-
capes from the opening. The meaning of these
currents we shall see when we como to con-
slider the movements OF tho air in caves.
Descending n few feet into the chasm, we
note that the Shaft rapidly widens on every
side, so that in most eases VIC quickly lose
sight OF the bordering walls; tho structure of
the shaft is, indeed, that of a rude dome, of
which the hard layer at the top forms the key
stone. After going down little distance the
width becomes so great that the scant light Of
single lantern may disclose the sides of tho
rude arch, AT n depth of Il few more feet, We
ind that the uit AGAIN contracts upp1f shelf
extending from The sides to near the center.
through which there is a passage rather wider
than that at the orilice. Landtngo ON this shelf,
We find it to be q tolerably level floor, from
which spring the walls of the upper dome ;
from one more sides of it extend galleries.
whose floors lie on this harder layer-their
arches arc cXcayated in the softer everything
rock, We sec at a glance that these channels
were once the paths Of streams, though
they have not tor ages been occupied
by. their waters. AS we follow
down the wandering gallery we
iind that it is joined by many similar pas
Sages, the whole forming q labyrinth in
which tho uIWary explorer may easily become
coRiounded Each of these passages terminates
III a vertical shaft, or rude dome, essentially
like that by which we gained access TO the
cavern, but generally communicating with the
external air by passages SO narrow and tortu-
Gus that they do not admit the light. We can
see that as this main channel is joined by the
side passages it certainly increases in size,
until perhaps, it attains majestic dimensions.
We may travel through it for miles, until We
are suddenly arrested by some one of several
classes OF obstacles; A great fall of stones
Deer the ROOT may close he lyay; 81 THOUGH
zinc hard layer .sifiesfS cosfxsftUfts y fl3o
floor the water may haye found and
enlarged q downward passage. creatnga dome
like that which we descended or. more fire.
quently, an assenlblage of crowded sialactitic
pendants and columns close the once open
Il. T.f I,.I 4,1.t